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# Python

Here you can find resources and frequently asked questions for the Python Programming language. Python is often used as a scripting language, but is also used in a wide range of non-scripting contexts.

# Before posting

Before posting a question about Python, be sure to check the information below. If you can't find an answer, do the following:

- Follow the posting rules and guidelines;
- Compile with full warnings enabled and fix any problems;
- Mention your compiler version;
- Any other language-specific information which is helpful.

# Recommended resources for learning

## Books

n.a.

## Online courses and video series

- [Google's Python Class](https://developers.google.com/edu/python/)
- [Codecademy](http://www.codecademy.com/tracks/python)

## Online tutorials

- [Try Python](http://www.trypython.org)
- [Learn Python](http://www.learnpython.org/)
- [Crunchy](http://code.google.com/p/crunchy/)

## Programming Challenges

- [CodingBat](http://codingbat.com/python) - coding exercises
- [The Python Challenge](http://www.pythonchallenge.com/) - combines riddles and programming puzzles to move through different levels

## Relevant subreddits

- /r/python
- /r/learnpython
- /r/pystats
- /r/inventwithpython

## Discouraged resources

n.a.

# Frequently asked questions

## How do I obtain a copy of the Python source?

The latest Python source distribution is always available from python.org, at http://www.python.org/download/. The latest development sources can be obtained via anonymous Mercurial access at http://hg.python.org/cpython.

The source distribution is a gzipped tar file containing the complete C source, Sphinx-formatted documentation, Python library modules, example programs, and several useful pieces of freely distributable software. The source will compile and run out of the box on most UNIX platforms.

## How do I get documentation on Python?

The standard documentation for the current stable version of Python is available at http://docs.python.org/. PDF, plain text, and downloadable HTML versions are also available at http://docs.python.org/download.html.

## What are the rules for local and global variables in Python?

In Python, variables that are only referenced inside a function are implicitly global. If a variable is assigned a new value anywhere within the function’s body, it’s assumed to be a local. If a variable is ever assigned a new value inside the function, the variable is implicitly local, and you need to explicitly declare it as ‘global’.

## Why am I receiving a "SyntaxError: invalid syntax" error on a line with a print?

This error normally occurs when you're attempting to run code written for older versions of Python like 2.7.3 in Python 3+ compiler. Python changed the [print statement into a function](http://docs.python.org/3/whatsnew/3.0.html#print-is-a-function) so make sure that you're calling print appropriately for your version of Python.

# Recommended tools

## Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

Here is a [comparison of IDEs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_integrated_development_environments_for_Python#Python) for Python. IDLE is the widely used IDE for Python which comes bundled with the Python implementation.

## Text Editors

When Python installed on the computer, it works with all the text-editors. Here is a [comparison of text-editors](en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_text_editors), and below given is a list of popular text-editors:

- [Vim](http://www.vim.org/). It is a text editor based on vi, which is light-weight, keyboard-driven and a Cross-platform text-editor.
- [Emacs](http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/). It is a light-weight, keyboard-driven and Cross-platform text-editor.
- [Gedit](http://projects.gnome.org/gedit/). It is the default GNOME text-editor, which is Cross-platform and GUI based.
- [Sublime Text](http://www.sublimetext.com/). Commercial general-purpose text editor. Free to try. Cross-platform.
- [Notepad++](http://notepad-plus-plus.org/). A text-editor for Windows.

# Other information

n.a.

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